Ok, so what does that mean? Rhode Island gets 58 million dollars to spend over the next few years to hire consultants and pay staff to design the health insurance exchange. Other states have received level one funding- that’s for only one year’s worth of work- but RI is the first to get money it can spend over multiple years.

Rhode Island had already applied for a level one establishment grant, and to apply for a level two grant, the state is making the commitment to establish an exchange. Rhode Island has been at the forefront of health care innovation throughout its history and has a great deal of experience and I think is ready to move on to level two.

A clarifying question from me- was Rhode Island the first state to apply for the second round of funding, or did we have some sort of competition?

Rhode Island was the first state to apply for level two funding.

So, we’re special because we’re the first ones to send in the application. Still, that does say something about the Ocean State. Rhode Island is taking advantage of everything the federal government has to offer and organized enough to get its paperwork in before the rest of the country. Here’s to being first in something positive!